Rogue bears more likely to face a gun this summer (Ont.)

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Gee, what other option is available to deal with this issue? :rolleyes:
Police warn that more nuisance bears will probably have to be destroyed as a result of the province ending its bear relocation program.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has quietly stopped its practice of trapping and relocating rogue bears, partly to save money and partly because it wasn’t deemed effective.

In a letter to the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police dated May 3, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister Carrie Hayward said the program “has been the least effective tool in managing the bear problem, with research showing that many relocated bears simply return to the area from where they were removed.”

In addition, the Star has learned that “bear technicians,” the first point of contact to deal with nuisance bears, will no longer be dispatched after dark.

These two measures combined will mean “a dramatic increase” in police calls involving nuisance bears, according to North Bay Chief of Police Paul Cook, who is also a vice-president of the chiefs association.

“More bears will die,” Cook said. “Our first option is to drive the bear back into the bush, but if police are in doubt about community safety, they’re going to be destroying bears.”

In Thunder Bay for instance, police responded to 38 bear calls last year; three of the bears had to be destroyed. Cook said those numbers are likely to climb.

Cook said it’s easier for police chiefs to defend the actions of an officer who kills a bear than the inaction of an officer when a bear goes on to hurt or kill a person.

“A one-year bear cub is a dangerous animal, in the wrong set of circumstances,” Cook said. “We have had the unfortunate experience of putting bears down who have wandered into schoolgrounds, or they wander too far into the city downtown core.”

If police are successful in scaring the bear away and the bear returns to threaten people, the bear will be shot. Police don’t have tranquilizer guns, Cook said.

The chiefs also argue that responding to problem bear calls will be a waste of frontline police resources, especially in Northern Ontario communities such as Timmins, Sudbury, Kenora and Thunder Bay.

Previously, the ministry has been the first to deal with problem bears, dispatching a “bear technician” to trap and relocate the animal.

The province’s 8-year-old Bear Wise program, which educates people about what to do if they encounter a bear, will continue to operate. So will the toll-free, 24-hour bear reporting hotline (866-514-2327). And the ministry will continue to track and collect information about human-bear interactions.

In emergencies, police should continue to be the first responders. But they’ve been told the ministry is moving from an active management model to one that emphasizes personal responsibility.

Police feel this government cutback will put them in the middle of an unwinnable fight — between animal-rights groups who want to save bears, and citizens who want protection.

Cook remembers a nurse with two small children being mauled while picking berries some time ago in North Bay. The nurse lived, but the bear was shot.

“We still got hate mail,” Cook said. “We can’t win.”

Be Bear Wise to protect yourself

The Ministry of Natural Resources offers the following tips if you encounter a bear:

• Make noise as you move through wooded areas — especially where background noise is high, such as near streams and waterfalls. Singing, whistling or talking will alert bears to your presence, giving them a chance to avoid you.

• Travel with others if possible.

• Be aware of your surroundings by keeping your eyes and ears open.

• Do not wear music headphones.

• Keep an eye out for signs of bears, such as tracks, claw marks on trees, flipped-over rocks or fresh bear droppings.

• Carry and have readily accessible a whistle or an air horn, and bear pepper spray. Know how to use this spray — practise on a stationary object to get the feel for how the canister sprays, and to know its limitations

• Consider carrying a long-handled axe, particularly if you are in “back country.”

• Avoid strong fragrances that may cause a bear to be curious; put any food you are carrying in sealed containers in your pack.

• If you are out with a dog, control it. Uncontrolled, untrained dogs may actually lead a bear to you.

• While berry picking, occasionally scan your surroundings to check for bears, and rise slowly from your crouched position so you don’t startle any nearby bears. They may not recognize you as a human when you are in a crouched
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hxxp://www.thestar.com/news/article/1175917--rogue-bears-more-likely-to-face-a-gun-this-summer?bn=1
 
The Ministry of Natural Resources has quietly stopped its practice of trapping and relocating rogue bears, partly to save money and partly because it wasn’t deemed effective.

In a letter to the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police dated May 3, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister Carrie Hayward said the program “has been the least effective tool in managing the bear problem, with research showing that many relocated bears simply return to the area from where they were removed.”
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But meanwhile..
These two measures combined will mean “a dramatic increase” in police calls involving nuisance bears, according to North Bay Chief of Police Paul Cook, who is also a vice-president of the chiefs association.
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I don't get it. Relocating was ineffective and the bears tend to go back, and simply continue to be nuisance/problem bears. But not relocating them is going to make things worse? If it wasn't helping to begin with how can things get any worse? I can only see it getting better if actual problem bears are actually being dealt with.

It really is always police chiefs that make absolutely no sense. :confused:

I mean they shouldn't have to necessarily just kill every bear, but if there is a problem one, why not? And then nuisance bear reports would actually decline because they're truly removed; not just displaced to be able to come back and/or continue their bad habits.

Consider carrying a long-handled axe, particularly if you are in “back country.”
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Just goes to show how anti-gun they are, can't even mention it. Whistles, air horns, pepper spray and even an axe.. but nope, firearms are evil!

Forget about how stupid & illogical our handgun laws are, just bring a non-restricted with you. They'd rather have a bear attack then mention firearms! :runaway:
 
I've had 3 different blacks in my yard already this year. One was heading up the stairs onto my deck. I opened the door and yelled at him and he backed down the steps and stood looking at me from the bottom. I had on idea what to do, so I called my wife. She opened the door and yelled at him and he is probably still running. Never saw anything that scared before. lol:D;):p
I have some bear bangers ready for the next time.
 
Up near my dad's place they are moving in, and the OPP are telling people to get used to the idea. How about: Got .30-06?
 
the opp and mnr has been telling us to just shoot them its so bad here they just cant be bothered with all the calls,its a shame that so many animals have to die with out anything on them being used in most cases,would make more sense to bring back the spring bear hunt and collect the fees for the tags,but what do i know lol
 
The chiefs also argue that responding to problem bear calls will be a waste of frontline police resources, especially in Northern Ontario communities such as Timmins, Sudbury, Kenora and Thunder Bay.
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Why is it always a waste of frontline resources? I would think that dealing with a nuisance bear would be considered a valuable use of resources...
 
I wonder if you had a bear in your yard and phoned the RCMP and they said they could not come out to deal with it, Then you said Ok I'll just take my handgun out and deal with it... Would they have time to come out to see what they could do...




Actually everybody who is concerned should request an ATT to carry a handgun for protection. And get the written excuse for being refused. Then when they are involved with a situation with a bear, they can show the media and public that they requested permission to protect themselves and family and were denied.
 
We need the spring bear hunt back! Instead of draining resources, let's boost our economy by encouraging folks to buy their licenses & participate in the spring hunt again!!!

Cheers
Jay
 
Hmmm. So now my area will have a massive deer overpopulation AND a massive bear overpopulation.... Maybe they will hybridize and make White-Tailed-Cloven-Hooved-Bears. Tasty me thinks.... ;)
 
It's Thursday. Did we miss the Bear Defense thread yesterday? ;)

bear-cavalry.jpg
 
Duffy said:
Actually everybody who is concerned should request an ATT to carry a handgun for protection. And get the written excuse for being refused. Then when they are involved with a situation with a bear, they can show the media and public that they requested permission to protect themselves and family and were denied.
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I like this one

If relocation doesn't work, they should find a place where it does work.
I was told here in Manitoba they release them in Marchand, the people there don't complain about bears, they just deal with it
 
If you call the mnr they will probably tell you to shoot it (In a rural area). If you don't have the means to shoot it they will give you a few numbers off a list of local trappers to come and "deal with" the bear. I know this because They ask if you would still like to be on the list when you renew your trapping license. However If the bear is acting aggresively, or is not leaving your yard no matter what, I would assume they would send somebody out.

When police are called, they have to respond to the call. So an officer is dispatched to the residents anyways. most people that live in a sub-urban or urban environment that see a bear, are probably going to call the police over the MNR.
 
Wrong Way said:
"carry a long handled axe"

Ok...tell ya what....let's see you in close quarters with a severely pissed off sow... With your axe. There's a reason my Deerfield comes along on our berry picking expeditions
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I want to see one of those fvcktards test the "carry an axe " theory out on video, and have them explain how effective it was after the attack.lol.
 
Gotta love the "carry a long handled axe". I would presume the axe is for using with your good arm to chop your other arm off as the bear tries to swallow it. :rolleyes:

What do some of these "experts" think when they offer advice like that?:redface:
 
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